Honda electric scooters were regarded as a remote possibility because Honda had previously mentioned them. The Japanese business had even begun to develop flex-fuel technology for the sector of low-cost Indian commuter motorcycles. Honda is currently without a doubt the market leader for ICE scooters in India.
All of us believed that Honda would likely enter the electric scooter market around 2025 or later. Honda has recently admitted that they have thought about electric scooters and will introduce their product in early 2023
but there’s a huge problem. Atsushi Ogata, MD, President and CEO of HMSI, disclosed the reason behind this choice. We were all hoping that the firm would unveil a Forza 350 maxi-scooter, but this choice was taken shortly after the street fighter CB300F was introduced. So,I guess something positive happened with the CB300F debut after all. Let’s break down this major news.
Honda Electric Scooter
We may anticipate Honda’s electric scooters to be secure and resistant to EV fire threats given that it is a well-known manufacturer like TVS and Bajaj. The Honda Power Pack Energy India business vertical has already been launched by Honda. To build locally interchangeable batteries for two- and three-wheeled EVs in India is its goal.
Honda carried out a full pilot study in Thane, Maharashtra, in 2021. 2,00,000 kilometres and 7,000 battery changes were logged by it. With Bengaluru as the beginning point, Honda has joined forces with HPCL and Bengaluru Metro to create switching stations. It was slated to open for business in May 2022. The Honda Benly e electric scooter that we saw in India may have its origin in this.
HMSI is assembling a team of engineers from Honda Motorcycles, Japan, to work on the creation of its first electric scooter. Ogata added that Honda Japan, where they already had experience with electric scooters, had been in contact with HMSI for six months. Ogata also stated that HMSI is developing a “futuristic Activa,” dropping a hint that Honda’s first electric vehicle in India may use the moniker Activa. This is distinct from Activa 7G, which was just hinted at.
It also makes logic. Since Activa is already the standard option for scooters. If this legend were to debut an electric vehicle, it might become the standard option for electric scooters. Indians by the millions already identify with the Activa brand. Like Bolero Neo, as TUV300 was a drag on the name. Mahindra employs an odd naming scheme by substituting letters and numbers for words.
Honda Activa Electric – What To Expect?
To start, the above-mentioned swappable battery technology may be used in Honda’s first electric vehicle. In essence, this indicates that the user is merely renting the battery rather than owning it. In this approach, the initial high costs that are related to EVs may be eliminated. Hence, EVs are attracting an increasing number of consumers.
Honda’s priority seems to be familiarity, which accounts for the indications of a “Futuristic Activa”. It will probably be given the name Activa. Honda will also make sure that it has respectable performance and that the range doesn’t need to be extremely long because the battery can be quickly switched out for a fully charged one, easing concerns about running out of range and issues with slow battery charging. When it is released, TVS iQube, Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X, Simple One, and many other vehicles will be in competition with Activa Electric.
Industry experts predict that between 2017 and 2025, the Indian EV market would grow with a CAGR of 77% in terms of value. Honda may have purchased the ticket too late, but getting on board this EV train is crucial. You next, Yamaha?
